U.S. Capabilities Are Showing Signs of Rot
Summary
The Atlantic piece argues that the U.S. military, while still superior, shows signs of strain as drones penetrate defenses and strategic planning gaps emerge. It links these vulnerabilities to leadership choices, waning emphasis on instruction and diplomacy, and uneasy alliances, using a Roman Empire analogy to illustrate slow decay. The author concludes that while not imminent collapse, decisive planning and collaboration are eroding and have real consequences.